Sunday, September 27, 2009
Post #2 Troy
The article Evaluating Online Learning Communities was very interesting. It tried to take a systematic approach to classifying how online learning communities are evaluated. It broke them down into four categories: evaluation purpose, evaluation approach, measures for evaluations, and evaluation techniques. This article found that it is not possible to generalize online learning communities into a one-size-fits-all measure of good or bad. Instead, this article recommends a comprehensive, on-going, diagnostic approach to measure clusters of indicators. Overall, I found this article a little dry and not as informative as it sounded at first. I thought it got bogged down in lingo and was difficult to follow. Overall, I was disappointed by it.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The New Digital Divide
The article Blocking Web 2.0 Tools in Schools: Creating a New Digital Divide discusses not an economic divide for student access to technology, but a filtering divide. Many school districts are blocking vital Web 2.0 tools that prevent teachers and student from these resources. Tools such as blogs, wikis, Flickr, and Google Docs are preventing students from valuable collaboration. This is not an economic divide, because most Web 2.0 tools are free. The article encourages us to lobby for equal access. There are schools that are using these tools successfully. They should be examples for the argument. There should also be a push for teaching proper use of these tools, but if they are blocked, you can’t teach them.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Post #2- Jessica
I found this article from the Boston Herald on Education Week’s website (http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/09/15/04mct_books-extinct.h29.html?r=1511748751). It talks about the shift in instructional tools in the state of Massachusetts from print to digital. A recent survey by the state’s DOE showed that more than half of the states schools districts have already or plan to upgrade their curriculum into a more tech-savvy approach, specifically targeting textbooks. The state is also using federal stimulus funding ($8.5 million, to be exact) and grants to incorporate technology initiatives aimed at improving student achievement.
This is a classic example of history repeating itself. Massachusetts has always been a cutting edge state when it comes to education and has always clearly identified education as one of its top priorities. I believe they will find this effort to “modernize” the curriculum across the state will benefit all people involved. The students will feel more capable when they leave the public education realm and may even be more engaged while they are still enrolled. The parents will certainly appreciate the technology instruction being provided hand-in-hand with the state standards. And the businesses in the surrounding communities will benefit by having the next group of employees enter the workforce capable and familiar with the technology of today. With the biggest hurdle (money) being minimized, I say why not!
This is a classic example of history repeating itself. Massachusetts has always been a cutting edge state when it comes to education and has always clearly identified education as one of its top priorities. I believe they will find this effort to “modernize” the curriculum across the state will benefit all people involved. The students will feel more capable when they leave the public education realm and may even be more engaged while they are still enrolled. The parents will certainly appreciate the technology instruction being provided hand-in-hand with the state standards. And the businesses in the surrounding communities will benefit by having the next group of employees enter the workforce capable and familiar with the technology of today. With the biggest hurdle (money) being minimized, I say why not!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The Rise of the Virtual Teacher (Troy Cornwell)
I found this article online: http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1884
I was interested in it because I have often thought of trying to teach online classes after I comlete my specialist degree. Cobb Couny, Georgia was one of the disticts this article examined. About 190 out of almost 6,900 teachers are involved in online teaching. That is about 2.75% of the teachers. This is definitely not the majority but I am hopeful that my specialist degree in IT may help put me in this small majority.
A survey through Boise State University found that most of the online teachers have taught 7 to 15 years in a traditional classroom setting before entering the virtual world. Many of these teachers still teach full or part time in a regular classroom while a small minority teach exclusively in the virtual world.
Most of the virtual classrooms are taught by teachers who are certified in the content area of the course as well as skilled in distance learning education. While there are some national standards for schools and districts to use when it comes to evaluating virtual teachers, most of the districts perform this function on their own.
I feel confident that this part of education is only in its infancy and will continue to grow. I would like to become a part of this movement in the near future.
I was interested in it because I have often thought of trying to teach online classes after I comlete my specialist degree. Cobb Couny, Georgia was one of the disticts this article examined. About 190 out of almost 6,900 teachers are involved in online teaching. That is about 2.75% of the teachers. This is definitely not the majority but I am hopeful that my specialist degree in IT may help put me in this small majority.
A survey through Boise State University found that most of the online teachers have taught 7 to 15 years in a traditional classroom setting before entering the virtual world. Many of these teachers still teach full or part time in a regular classroom while a small minority teach exclusively in the virtual world.
Most of the virtual classrooms are taught by teachers who are certified in the content area of the course as well as skilled in distance learning education. While there are some national standards for schools and districts to use when it comes to evaluating virtual teachers, most of the districts perform this function on their own.
I feel confident that this part of education is only in its infancy and will continue to grow. I would like to become a part of this movement in the near future.
Blog Post #1 Kim Mulkey
My master’s degree is in library media and it was during my program that I felt pulled into the world of technology. I am a firm believer that technology and library media are tools that students and teachers need to enhance the curriculum. The article Best Sites for the Technology Leader focuses on the Library Media Specialist as a technology leader. Even though I am a Technology teacher and facilitator now, I still am drawn to the overlap with library media. This article gives great sources to help a leader stay current with trends and new emerging technologies.
Current trends and issues
http://www.techlearning.com/
Managing an Instructional Technology Program http://cosn.org/
Research of Technology and Teaching http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/teachtech/research.shtm
Professional Development Tools http://www.edutopia.org/
Digital Storytelling http://www.digitalstories.org/
Podcasting with Tony Vincent http://www.blogger.com/www.learninginhand.com/podcasting
Podcasting with David Warlick and the Landmark Project http://epnweb.org/
The author also suggests following these two blogs:
http://ianjukes.com/infosvvy/index.php
http://www.speedofcreativity.org/
I would add http://educationworld.com/ as one of my favorites to this author’s list. I also think that attending conferences aids in staying on top of the current trends, as well as reminding us of the “tried and true” methods. I feel that continual learning of a leader is a key component in being an effective technology leader.
Troutner, J. (2006, October). best sites for the technology leader. Teacher Librarian, 34(1), 39-40. Retrieved September 12, 2009, from Academic Search Complete database.
Current trends and issues
http://www.techlearning.com/
Managing an Instructional Technology Program http://cosn.org/
Research of Technology and Teaching http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/teachtech/research.shtm
Professional Development Tools http://www.edutopia.org/
Digital Storytelling http://www.digitalstories.org/
Podcasting with Tony Vincent http://www.blogger.com/www.learninginhand.com/podcasting
Podcasting with David Warlick and the Landmark Project http://epnweb.org/
The author also suggests following these two blogs:
http://ianjukes.com/infosvvy/index.php
http://www.speedofcreativity.org/
I would add http://educationworld.com/ as one of my favorites to this author’s list. I also think that attending conferences aids in staying on top of the current trends, as well as reminding us of the “tried and true” methods. I feel that continual learning of a leader is a key component in being an effective technology leader.
Troutner, J. (2006, October). best sites for the technology leader. Teacher Librarian, 34(1), 39-40. Retrieved September 12, 2009, from Academic Search Complete database.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Blog Post 1- Jessica
I found an article on Education Week online. The link is http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/09/02/02filter_ep.h29.html?r=1809427331
and I had to register as a member to see the whole article. If it's any consolation, it looks like you can find a lot of related articles here.
Summary- This article discusses an Alabama school districts choice to open the "internet floodgates" to students and teachers instead of constantly showing that dreaded ACCESS DENIED page. Their argument for allowing increased access is that they should be preparing students to use the internet and its resources properly instead of sheltering them from the possibility of inappropaite content.
Opinion- I wholeheartedly agree with what Tussville, Alabama is doing. They take their job to educate children seriously and a complete education includes access to all avenues of the internet (including youtube, blogs, etc). This gives teachers an opportunity to model good navigating skills for their students to replicate. I worry that our students have the possibility of being totally overwhelmed when they finally get unrestricted access to the internet. It's safer for us to educate them while we can on proper online procedures and netiquette.
and I had to register as a member to see the whole article. If it's any consolation, it looks like you can find a lot of related articles here.
Summary- This article discusses an Alabama school districts choice to open the "internet floodgates" to students and teachers instead of constantly showing that dreaded ACCESS DENIED page. Their argument for allowing increased access is that they should be preparing students to use the internet and its resources properly instead of sheltering them from the possibility of inappropaite content.
Opinion- I wholeheartedly agree with what Tussville, Alabama is doing. They take their job to educate children seriously and a complete education includes access to all avenues of the internet (including youtube, blogs, etc). This gives teachers an opportunity to model good navigating skills for their students to replicate. I worry that our students have the possibility of being totally overwhelmed when they finally get unrestricted access to the internet. It's safer for us to educate them while we can on proper online procedures and netiquette.
Welcome
Hi Kimberly and Troy.
It sounds like each week we have to find an article to evaluate (specifically one dealing with administration of educational technology). Starting this week (9/13), we post our article link and response to our article. By the end of next week (9/20), we have to respond to the other two articles that were posted.
Is that how y'all understand it? If not, please correct me. Looking forward to working with you.
Jessica
It sounds like each week we have to find an article to evaluate (specifically one dealing with administration of educational technology). Starting this week (9/13), we post our article link and response to our article. By the end of next week (9/20), we have to respond to the other two articles that were posted.
Is that how y'all understand it? If not, please correct me. Looking forward to working with you.
Jessica
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